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Suspected Ebola patient negative for deadly disease

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — A patient at Kaiser Permanente South Sacramento Medical Center tested negative for the Ebola virus, health officials said Thursday night. "We are pleased with the negative outcome of the

"We are pleased with the negative outcome of the Ebola test and wish the patient a speedy recovery," California Department of Public Health Director and state health officer Dr. Ron Chapman said. "The case in Sacramento County demonstrates that the system is working. This patient was quickly identified, appropriate infection control procedures were implemented, and public health authorities were notified."

The patient was admitted into the hospital and placed in isolation on Tuesday. Blood samples were sent to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta to be tested for the Ebola virus.

On Wednesday, health officials said the patient was at low risk for the virus and had recently traveled to a West African country. They did not comment on what symptoms the patient had that raised enough concern to be tested for the deadly virus.

According to CDC, symptoms of the often-fatal illness are fever, severe headache, muscle pain, weakness, diarrhea, vomiting, abdominal pain and lack of appetite. Symptoms may appear anywhere from two to 21 days after exposure to Ebola virus, although eight to 10 days is most common. Ebola can only be spread after symptoms appear.

Earlier Thursday, Kent Brantly, a physician who had contacted Ebola while working in West Africa with the humanitarian group Samaritan's Purse, was discharged from Atlanta's Emory University Hospital. On Tuesday, SIM USA missionary Nancy Writebol was discharged.

Doctors said the former patients are no longer contagious and pose no threat to others.

"God saved my life," said a gaunt Brantly, whose arrival at a news conference Thursday drew applause from the crowd. He thanked his medical team and the millions of people around the world who had prayed for his recovery. "Please do not stop praying for the people of West Africa."